Unlawful business deals will not go ignored by Bersatu, says Dr Mahathir

Sheridan Mahavera Noel Achariam SM Amin Sheridan Mahavera, Noel Achariam, SM Amin Updated 7 years ago · Published on 30 Dec 2018 7:37PM · 4 Comments

Bersatu chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad addressing delegates at the party's AGM in Putrajaya today. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, December 30, 2018.

THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC) will descend on any Bersatu member or leader who breaks the law when it comes to getting contracts and licences, said party chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad today.

He was responding to concerns that Bersatu members were demanding contracts and business opportunities from the party’s top leaders, who are also ministers in the current Pakatan Harapan government.

These demands have been a recurring theme in the just concluded annual general assembly, and is seen as a challenge for Bersatu’s leadership, which is trying to prevent a culture of patronage from seeping into the party.

Party vice-president Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman also referred to the issue in his closing speech earlier today, in which he urged for the reformation of the federal development department (JPP) so that activities – that division and branch chiefs could benefit from – could be channelled through them.

Dr Mahathir told reporters that Abdul Rashid’s demand was not tantamount to corruption, but that the latter was instead referring to party members who were entrepreneurs that were discriminated against by the previous Barisan Nasional government.

“We are against the corrupt. Some of our people are capable but they were discriminated against by the last government. Now, they feel that they can have a chance in the tender process,” Dr Mahathir said.

“So, because they got a contract, don’t just assume that they got it because they are from the party. There will be no discrimination as was practiced by the previous government.”

Dr Mahathir said all contractors and entrepreneurs, regardless whether they were party members, would have to go through the government’s tender process.

“The right channel is the tender process. We cannot be assured (that members will not flout the law) but there is the MACC. If they do anything wrong, you can be assured that the MACC will descend upon them and it doesn’t matter what rank they are.” – December 30, 2018.

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Comments

  • Demand for contracts eh?
    Already beginning to look and sound like .....

    Aisay, u know who la

    Posted 7 years ago by Rock Hensem · Reply

  • Haha political

    Posted 7 years ago by Muhammad Syahid · Reply

  • Being all Malays and with high communal sentiments, Bersatu will certainly be busy tackling such problems. UMNO did not tackle the problems and went kaput.

    Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

    • Being all Malays and with high communal sentiments, the party will not be lacking in those issues. Bersatu will certainly be busy tackling such problems. UMNO did not tackle the problems and went kaput.

      Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply